Djibouti, July 19: A Djibouti official welcomed Sunday the visit of His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the African country, and hailed it as “historic” and one that emphasized the Gulf state’s keenness to strengthen relations between the two sides.
Djibouti Presidential Advisor for Investment Affairs, MP Fahmi Ahmad Mohammad Al-Hajj, was speaking to KUNA on the occasion of the Kuwaiti premier’s visit to Djibouti, as part of an African tour that already saw him in Benin and Gabon, and will take him to Ethiopia, Comoros, Swaziland and Senegal.
“The government and people of Djibouti are very happy with this visit for many reasons, namely the similarities in geopolitical circumstances between Kuwait and Djibouti which include regional challenges, as well as the similar population size, which helps strengthen brotherly relations and ties between the two countries,” he said.
Al-Hajj noted that Kuwait was one of the first countries that provided moral and financial support to Djibouti after its independence, and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) contributed to many vital developmental sectors in the African country – especially infrastructure projects such as electricity and ports – as well as social, housing and transport sectors.
This has left its positive mark on the people of Djibouti, he said, “and we are proud of this existing relationship between the two countries.” He noted the similarities of stances on Arab and Muslim causes, as well as on regional issues, which contributed to boosting brotherly ties.
Al-Hajj hoped that His Highness Sheikh Nasser’s visit to Djibouti, the first for such high-ranking delegation from Kuwait, would boost bilateral cooperation and encourage the Kuwaiti private sector to participate in the economic and social development in Djibouti.
“It is important for us to diversify Arab investments in Djibouti, and there are now massive investments here, managed by our brothers in the UAE,” he said.
The advisor hoped that the Kuwaiti private sector would contribute to the development of the transport and tourism sectors in his country, and noted that Djibouti was an important commercial and economic linkage point between countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and East Africa.
Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Yemen and Non-Resident Ambassador to Djibouti, Salem Al-Zamanan, underscored in a statement to KUNA the importance of this African tour that His Highness Sheikh Nasser was currently embarked on.
The visit to Djibouti will give a strong push to bilateral relations in all areas, and reflects Kuwait’s keenness for consolidating its ties with Arab and Muslim countries in the African continent and contributing to their economic and commercial development, based on directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, he said.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser, who is being accompanied by a high-ranking official and economic delegation, is set to meet with President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita Dileita, following which the premiers of the two countries will hold talks and sign bilateral agreements.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser will also meet President of the Djibouti National Assembly, Idris Arnaud Ali.
—–Agencies